Print engine controller for a multi-segment printhead
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a print engine for a multi-segment printhead having a plurality of printhead segments that are positioned in a printhead to span a print area so that portions of consecutive printhead segments overlap in common print areas, with each printhead segment defining a lead-in area in one common print area and a lead-out area in a consecutive common print area, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating a set of dither matrices for each printhead segment, each set having at least a lead-in dither matrix associated with the lead-in area and a lead-out dither matrix associated with the lead-out area;
generating lead-in/lead-out dither matrices for each common print area based on characteristics of the printhead segments of each common print area;
generating a variable probability value that is dependent on a scalar value that corresponds to a position along a line spanning each common print area;
interpolating the lead-in/lead-out dither matrices with the variable probability value to generate interpolated lead-in/lead-out dither matrices;
loading a compositor with the data representing the matrices;
compositing print data based on the dither matrices; and
providing the printhead with the print data.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inkjet printer comprises a printhead that includes a number of printhead segments that span a print area so that portions of consecutive printhead segments overlap in common print areas. Each printhead segment defines a lead-in area in one common print area and a lead-out area in a consecutive common print area. An interface is configured to receive image data. A memory device stores data relating to characteristics of the printhead. A dithering unit communicates with the interface and the memory device. The dithering unit is configured to generate a lead-in dither matrix associated with the lead-in area and a lead-out dither matrix associated with the lead-out area, to generate lead-in/lead-out dither matrices for each common print area, to generate a variable probability value that is dependent on a scalar value that corresponds to a position along a line spanning each common print area and to interpolate the lead-in/lead-out dither matrices with the variable probability value. A compositor communicates with the dithering unit to composite the data into print data. A printhead interface communicates with the compositor to receive the print data and to provide the printhead with the print data.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling a print engine for a multi-segment printhead having a plurality of printhead segments that are positioned in a printhead to span a print area so that portions of consecutive printhead segments overlap in common print areas, with each printhead segment defining a lead-in area in one common print area and a lead-out area in a consecutive common print area, the method comprising the steps of:
-
generating a set of dither matrices for each printhead segment, each set having at least a lead-in dither matrix associated with the lead-in area and a lead-out dither matrix associated with the lead-out area;
generating lead-in/lead-out dither matrices for each common print area based on characteristics of the printhead segments of each common print area;
generating a variable probability value that is dependent on a scalar value that corresponds to a position along a line spanning each common print area;
interpolating the lead-in/lead-out dither matrices with the variable probability value to generate interpolated lead-in/lead-out dither matrices;
loading a compositor with the data representing the matrices;
compositing print data based on the dither matrices; and
providing the printhead with the print data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
querying the printhead segments to generate data in the form of a characterization vector that is unique to the printhead;
loading a memory device with the characterization vector; and
reading the characterization vector to carry out the step of generating the lead-in/lead-out dither matrices.
-
-
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes the step of generating a dither matrix for a non-overlapping portion of each printhead segment.
-
4. A print engine controller for a multi-segment printhead having a plurality of printhead segments that are positioned in a printhead to span a print area so that portions of consecutive printhead segments overlap in common print areas, with each printhead segment defining a lead-in area in one common print area and a lead-out area in a consecutive common print area, the print engine controller comprising
an interface which is configured to receive image data; -
a memory device that is capable of storing data relating to characteristics of the multi-segment printhead;
a dithering unit that communicates with the interface to receive the image data from the interface and the memory device to receive data relating to the characteristics of the multi-segment printhead, the dithering unit being configured to generate a set of dither matrices for each printhead segment so that each set has at least a lead-in dither matrix associated with the lead-in area and a lead-out dither matrix associated with the lead-out area, to generate lead-in/lead-out dither matrices for each common print area based on characteristics of the printhead segments of each common print area, to generate a variable probability value that is dependent on a scalar value that corresponds to a position along a line spanning each common print area and to interpolate the lead-in/lead-out dither matrices with the variable probability value to generate interpolated lead-in/lead-out dither matrices;
a compositor that communicates with the dithering unit to receive data representing the interpolated lead-in/lead-out dither matrices and to composite the data into print data; and
a printhead interface that communicates with the compositor to receive the print data, the printhead interface being in communication with the multi-segment printhead to provide the multi-segment printhead with the print data. - View Dependent Claims (5)
-
-
6. An inkjet printer that comprises
a printhead that includes a number of printhead segments that span a print area, the printhead segments being positioned so that portions of consecutive printhead segments overlap in common print areas, with each printhead segment defining a lead-in area in one common print area and a lead-out area in a consecutive common print area; -
an interface which is configured to receive image data;
a memory device that is capable of storing data relating to characteristics of the printhead;
a dithering unit that communicates with the interface to receive the image data from the interface and the memory device to receive data relating to the characteristics of the printhead, the dithering unit being configured to generate a set of dither matrices for each printhead segment so that each set has at least a lead-in dither matrix associated with the lead-in area and a lead-out dither matrix associated with the lead-out area, to generate lead-in/lead-out dither matrices for each common print area based on characteristics of the printhead segments of each common print area, to generate a variable probability value that is dependent on a scalar value that corresponds to a position along a line spanning each common print area and to interpolate the lead-in/lead-out dither matrices with the variable probability value to generate interpolated lead-in/lead-out dither matrices;
a compositor that communicates with the dithering unit to receive data representing the interpolated lead-in/lead-out dither matrices and to composite the data into print data; and
a printhead interface that communicates with the compositor to receive the print data, the printhead interface being in communication with the printhead to provide the printhead with the print data. - View Dependent Claims (7)
-
Specification